Resonator or amplifier for phonographs.



No. 709,984. Patented Sept. 30, I902.

W. 8. HOW; RESONATOR 0B AMPLIFIER FDR PHONOGRAPHS.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1901.)

(No ModeL) Ami Inventor.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SAMUEL IIOI'V, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOGEORGE LINDSA'T JOHNSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

RESONATOR OR AMPLIFIER FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,984, datedSeptember 30, 1902.

Application filed March 1, 1901. Serial No. 49,476. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

3e it known that LWILLIAM SAMUEL How, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at 35 Albany street, Regents Park, London, England,have invented new and useful Improvements in Resonators orAmplifiers forPhonographs and other Instruments for Becording and Reproducing Sounds,of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to enable phonographs and such likeinstruments to reproduce the human voice in a more natural manner thanheretofore and to eliminate the squeaky, metallic, and nasal elementtherefrom.

My improved resonators, amplifiers, and reflectors are shown by theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a section of aresonator or amplifier constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2is a plan ofsame. Fig. 3 is a section of one form of perforatedmodulator. Fig. 4 is a section of another form ofperforated modulator.Fig. 5 is a plan of same. Fig. 6

23 is a section of a conical piece which may be used in conjunction withthe resonatorshown by Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is asection of a refiec torwhich may be used in conjunction with the apparatus shown by Figs. 1, 2,and 6.

Fig. 8 isa front viewof same. Fig. 9 isaplan of same. Fig. 10 shows theresonators and reflectors used together. Fig.11 isa front view ofanother form of reflector. Fig. 12 is a side view of same.

The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.

a is a cylinder, of vulcanite, papier-mach, or of any other suitablematerial, open at the top and provided with a flat bottom I), to

which is attached or formed integral therewith a short cylindrical neck0, which fits onto the phonograph or other similar apparatus in place ofthe usual trumpet. The cylinder at and neck 1) form the resonator oramplifier.

d e are perforated diaphragms or stops which are fitted into the bottomof the cylinder a, as shown by Fig. 1, when it is desired to reproducethe human voice. The diaphragms or stops (1 are made with apertures f oof various diameters, and the r ma r either be 5 used alone or incombination with the stops 6, which may also be made with apertures g ofvarious sizes. As will be seen by referring to the drawings, Figs. 1, 3,and 4, the diaphragm or stop 6 is cup-shaped above the aperture g, whilethe diaphragm or stop (Z is cup-shaped below the aperture f.

When it is necessary or desirable to amplify or intensify the soundsproduced by the instrument stillmore than the cylinder at is be capableof effecting, I provide a cone h, (shown in section at Fig. 6 and inelevation at Fig. 10,) of vulcanite, papier-mach, or of any othersuitable material, which is provided at the bottom with an internalflangez'or lugs j, which flange or lugs rest on the top of the cylinderat, when the cone his used in conjunction therewith, or, if preferred,the cone 7L may be made to fit inside the cylinder a, as shown by Fig.10. If the sound requires still further am plification-as, for-instance,if the instrument is being used in large halls-I may use a secondsimilar (but larger) cone to that shown by Figs. 6 and 10 and which fitsin or on the mouth of the cone h. In some cases-as, forinstance, whenthe instrument is placed atone end of a large hall and it is desired toenable the entire audience to hear the reproduced sounds-I make use ofthe reflector 7t (shown by Figs. 7, 8, and 9) to effect this result.This reflector consists of an approximate semicylinder of any suitablematerial attached to a ring Z, the semicylinder 7t being provided with acovered top m and side wings it it. 8

0 o are lugs secured to the inside of the ring Z to support thereflector 75 on the top of the cone h, or the reflector 70 may be madeto fit inside the mouth of the cone h, as shown by Fig. 10. Thereflectors may also be spher- 9o ical, elliptical, or parabolic, and areproduced by pressing or otherwise forming a circular piece of suitablematerial into the required curvature. Such a reflector is shown by Figs.

11 and 12, the reflectorp being secured to a 5 ring q to enable it to befitted to the cylinder to or to the cone h.

This invention is applicable to instruments in which the record isinscribed. on a disk instead of a cylinder by using a suitable 0011-necting-piece between the sound-box and the resonator or amplifier.

Although I prefer to use a cylinder at, I may use a cone, as indicatedby dotted lines, Fig. 1. The most suitable materials for my improvedresonators or amplifiers are vulcanite, celluloid, papier-mach, wood,and other non -metallic substances, those substances Which arehomogeneous giving the best results.

By using resonators or amplifiers constructed as hereinbefore specifiedthe harsh, metallic, and nasal quality of the sounds produced byphonographs and other sound-recording instruments is avoided and thereproduction of the record of the human voice is rendered almostperfect.

What I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like thecombination of a tube ahavinga fiat bottom Z) and a cylindrical neck (3with one or more cup-shaped modulators d e having aperturesfg in thebottom thereof all substantially as specifiedfor the purpose stated.

2. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like thecombination of a tube ahaving a fiat bottom I) and a cylindrical neck awith one or more cup-shaped modula tors d e and a cone hadapted tofitthe mouth of the tube a all substantially as specified for thepurpose stated.

3. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like thecombination with the tube a attached to the sound-box of the instrument,of a reflector consisting of a semicylinder is having" a curved top onand side wings 'n n; the semicylinder 76 being secured to a ring 1adapted to fit the mouth of the tube a, all substantially as specifiedfor the purpose stated.

4:. In a resonator or amplifier for phonographs and the like thecombination of a tube at having a flat bottom b and a cylindrical neck awith one or more cup-shaped modulators (Z c a cone h adapted to fitthetube co and a reflector 70 having a curved top 'm and side wings n n anda ring Zsecured to the reflector It; all substantially as specified andfor the purpose stated.

\VILLIAM SAMUEL HOW.

WVitnesses:

ERNEST SALAMAN, R. A. KENNEDY.

